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This Cisco® Wireless Control System (WCS) licensing and ordering guide presents ordering guidelines and licensing information for new and existing Cisco WCS deployments that are being upgraded to support Cisco WCS Software Release 5.2 or later.

This guide includes information on buying new or expansion Cisco WCS licenses to deploy on single or multiple servers (enterprise), adding new Cisco WCS enterprise licenses, converting from CiscoWorks Wireless LAN Solution Engine (WLSE) to Cisco WCS, upgrading to the Cisco WCS Location and High Availability option, and deploying the free Cisco WCS Demonstration License.

Cisco WCS is available in either a
Cisco WCS Base or
Cisco WCS PLUS configuration.

Cisco WCS Base supports standard Cisco WCS capabilities.

Cisco WCS PLUS includes all WCS Base features
plus the ability to track location of a single Wi-Fi device such as a client, tag, or rogue access point on demand (limited location), N:1 High Availability (HA) for WCS servers, and Cisco 3300 Series Mobility Services Engine (MSE) management which can expand location capabilities by adding Cisco Context-Aware Software to simultaneously track up to 18,000 assets.

Note: Customers who deploy HA for their WCS servers must have WCS 5.2 or later installed on their primary and secondary servers. Additionally, customers must install a WCS STANDARD-K9 (PLUS configuration) or WCS-ENT-PLUS-K9 license on each of the primary servers that are backed up by the secondary server. (Primary server provides the license for the secondary server. No separate license is required for the secondary server).

• For single server deployments, it is more cost effective to purchase Cisco WCS PLUS initially rather than to upgrade from a Cisco WCS Base to a Cisco WCS PLUS license at a later date.

• All Cisco WCS licenses of the same option (Base or PLUS) are additive. Cisco WCS licenses can be combined to support an incremental number of access points (such as 300, 700, 900) beyond the distinct license increments (such as 50, 100, 500) offered.

Example 1: To purchase a new single server license for 800 access points

Purchase: WCS-STANDARD-K9, (1) WCS-APBASE-500, and (3) WCS-APBASE-100

Example 2: To purchase a new enterprise license for 20,000 access points:

Purchase: WCS-ENT-PLUS-K9, and (2) WCS-ENT-PLUS-10000

SINGLE SERVER AND ENTERPRISE LICENSES

• Single server and Enterprise licenses can co-exist on a Cisco WCS server if the single server license is Cisco WCS PLUS. If a Cisco WCS Base license was ordered initially, it must be upgraded to a Cisco WCS PLUS license before the enterprise license can be added to the single server license.

Example: A customer has an existing Cisco WCS Base license for 500 access points (WCS-APBASE-500). The customer wants to add an additional quantity of 800 access points on multiple Cisco WCS servers for a total of 1300 access points.

Purchase: (1) WCS-PLUS-UPG-500 to upgrade the existing 500 Cisco WCS Base license to a Cisco WCS PLUS license, and (1) WCS-ENT-1000 to support the new 800 access points.

• Once allocated to a server, enterprise licenses cannot be broken down into smaller increments. For example, if a license of 1000 is allocated in increments of 250 within the network, you cannot break down the 250 allocation further.

CISCO WCS SKUS

• All Cisco WCS SKUs can be bought as a discrete SKU (first-time purchase) or as an expansion SKU (added to an existing deployment) unless otherwise noted.

• All Cisco WCS SKUs, except for the Cisco WCS Demonstration License, are orderable using the Cisco Ordering Tool.

• Each license is orderable in specified quantity blocks. To add multiple quantities of license blocks, you must go back to the main screen and order additional family SKUs and then select the sub-SKU option and quantity block required. Repeat this process until the correct quantity of licenses is ordered.

• Cisco WCS licensing is not tied to the type of lightweight access point deployed since Cisco WCS licensing does not distinguish among access point types. Each lightweight access point is counted as one access point license.

Software SKUs

Review the six links below to identify your license requirements as either a NEW or EXISTING customer and to identify the appropriate Cisco WCS Base or Cisco WCS PLUS SKU to order.

CISCO WCS BASE OPTIONS FOR NEW AND EXISTING CUSTOMERS (WCS-STANDARD-K9)

• If you are a NEW Cisco WCS customer who wants support for 50, 100, or 500 access points in a single server deployment, order WCS-STANDARD-K9 and select one of the Cisco Base options below:

WCS-APBASE-50: License supports up to 50 access points.

WCS-APBASE-100: License supports up to 100 access points.

WCS-APBASE-500: License supports up to 500 access points.

Note: If your access point deployment does not exactly match 50, 100 or 500, you need to order multiple licenses. For example, to support an access point deployment of 250 you would order (2) WCS-APBASE-100 licenses + (1) WCS-APBASE-50 license. This ordering process applies to both new and upgrade orders.

• If you are an EXISTING Cisco WCS customer who wants to increase access points support within a single server deployment, order WCS-STANDARD-K9 and select one of the Cisco Base options below:

WCS-APBASE-50: License supports up to 50 access points.

WCS-APBASE-100: License supports up to 100 access points.

WCS-APBASE-500: License supports up to 500 access points.

Note: If your increased access point deployment does not exactly match 50, 100 or 500, you need to order multiple licenses. For example, to support an access point deployment of 250 (and you already have a WCS-BASE-100 license) you would order (1) WCS-APBASE-100 license + (1) WCS-APBASE-50 license.

Note: These are the same licenses ordered by new customers. Licenses are additive and ordered in increments whether ordered for a new or existing deployment.

CISCO WLSE-TO-WCS BASE CONVERSION CUSTOMERS (WCS-WLSE-UPG-K9)

• If you are a CiscoWorks WLSE (models 1130-19, 1133) customer who wants to convert to Cisco WCS Base, and wants support for 50, 100, 500 or 1000 access points in a single server deployment, order WCS-WLSE-UPG-K9 and select one of the Cisco Base options below:

WCS-WLSE-APB-50: License supports up to 50 access points.

WCS-WLSE-APB-100: License supports up to 100 access points.

WCS-WLSE-APB-500: License supports up to 500 access points.

WCS-WLSE-APB-1000: License supports up to 1000 access points.

Note: CiscoWorks WLSE Express model 1030, and CiscoWorks WLSE model 1105 are not supported by this SKU. These WLSE models cannot be converted to Cisco WCS.

Note: WLSE licenses are tied to WLSE hardware and cannot be used on non-WLSE hardware.

• If you are an EXISTING customer who wants to upgrade from a Cisco Base to Cisco PLUS license, order WCS-PLUS-UPG-K9 and select one of the Cisco WCS PLUS upgrade options below:

WCS-PLUS-UPG-50: License supports up to 50 access points.

WCS-PLUS-UPG-100: License supports up to 100 access points.

WCS-PLUS-UPG-500: License supports up to 500 access points.

Note: The number of WCS-PLUS-UPG-K9 licenses purchased must equal or exceed the number of installed WCS Base licenses for the Cisco WCS to register as a Cisco WCS PLUS system. Thereafter, additional capacity is added by ordering PLUS licenses.

• If you are a NEW Cisco WCS customer with a single server deployment and want location tracking, high availability, and support for 50, 100, or 500 access points, order WCS-STANDARD-K9 and select one of the Cisco WCS PLUS options below:

WCS-PLUS-50: License supports up to 50 access points.

WCS-PLUS-100: License supports up to 100 access points.

WCS-PLUS-500: License supports up to 500 access points.

• If you are a NEW Cisco WCS customer with an enterprise deployment and want single device Location tracking, High Availability, and support for 1000, 2500, 10000, or 50000 access points, order WCS-ENT-PLUS-K9 and one of the Cisco WCS PLUS options below:

• If you are an EXISTING Cisco WCS PLUS customer with a single server deployment and want to increase the number of access points supported in your network, order WCS-STANDARD-K9 and one of the Cisco WCS PLUS options below:

WCS-PLUS-50: License supports up to 50 access points.

WCS-PLUS-100: License supports up to 100 access points.

WCS-PLUS-500: License supports up to 500 access points.

Note: These are the same licenses ordered by new customers. Licenses are additive and ordered in increments whether ordered for a new or existing deployment.

• If you are an EXISTING Cisco WCS PLUS customer with an enterprise deployment who wants to increase access points support within a multiple server deployment, order WCS-ENT-PLUS-K9 and select one of the Cisco PLUS options below:

WCS-ENT-PLUS-1000: License supports up to 1000 access points.

WCS-ENT-PLUS-2500: License supports up to 2500 access points.

WCS-ENT-PLUS-10000: License supports up to 10000 access points.

WCS-ENT-PLUS-50000: License supports up to 50000 access points.

Note: These are the same licenses ordered by new customers. Licenses are additive and ordered in increments whether ordered for a new or existing deployment.

• If you are an EXISTING CiscoWorks WLSE (models 1130-19, 1133) customer and want to CONVERT to Cisco WCS PLUS, and want support for 50, 100, 500 or up to master page1500 access points, order WCS-WLSE-UPG-K9 and select one of the Cisco PLUS options below:

WCS-WLSE-PLUS-50: License supports up to 50 access points.

WCS-WLSE-PLUS-100: License supports up to 100 access points.

WCS-WLSE-PLUS-500: License supports up to 500 access points.

WCS-WLSE-PLUS-1000: License supports up to 1000 access points.

Note: CiscoWorks WLSE Express model 1030 and CiscoWorks WLSE model 1105 are not supported by this SKU. These WLSE models cannot be converted to Cisco WCS.

Note: WLSE licenses are tied to WLSE hardware and cannot be used on non-WLSE hardware.

COMPLETE LISTING OF CISCO WCS LICENSES

Table 1 provides a complete listing of all Cisco WCS license SKUs.

Table 1. Currently Available Cisco WCS Licenses

Product Part Number

Product Description

WCS-STANDARD-K9

New and Expanded Cisco WCS Deployments

Cisco WCS Base

• Supports deployment of Cisco WCS on a single server

WCS-APBASE-50

Cisco WCS Base license for 50 access points, Windows/Linux

WCS-APBASE-100

Cisco WCS Base license for 100 access points, Windows/Linux

WCS-APBASE-500

Cisco WCS Base license for 500 access points, Windows/Linux

Cisco WCS Plus

• Supports deployment of Cisco WCS on a single server

• Supports mobility services enablement, high availability, and the ability to track the location of a single Wi-Fi device or tag on demand

Note: For the WCS-STANDARD-K9 and WCS-PLUS-UPG-K9 SKU families, customers are prompted to order an optional CD (WCS-CD-K9) for a nominal charge during the ordering process. The WCS-CD-K9 contains one software image of Cisco WCS software on a CD for Windows and Linux. This CD is shipped by U.S. mail to the purchaser's address. The optional CD is not available for WCS-WLSE-UPG-K9 because this SKU family automatically ships in CD format.

Note: You can only order one license quantity at a time (such as WCS-ENT-PLUS-2500). If you need to order multiple licenses to meet your access point support requirements, you must go back to the main screen and reorder both the family SKU and subordinate SKU. Repeat this process as needed, until the correct quantity of licenses is ordered.

7. To return to the Main Screen to order additional license SKUs click New Configuration.

8. Repeat steps 2 through 7 until you order your license quantity needs.

1. If it is a WLSE-to-WCS conversion, do the conversion before installing Cisco WCS software.

2. Install the Cisco WCS software on your server.

Step 4: Registering PAK Certificate

All purchased Cisco WCS SKUs require a PAK certificate to register the Cisco WCS license. All customers who ordered new licenses and those upgrading from release 3.x will receive a PAK certificate either by US mail or by email.

US mailed PAK: New or existing customers that are purchasing new Cisco WCS licenses from the Cisco Ordering Tool will receive their PAK as a paper certificate through the US mail. Cisco sends the PAK upon purchase of the Cisco WCS SKUs.

2. Follow the instructions on the web site to register the licenses using the PAK certificate.

Customer email address and host name are required to register.

Additionally, if it is a single server license, confirm SKU ordered (WCS Base or WCS PLUS); and if it is an enterprise license, specify the number of access points to be decremented.

Note: For Cisco WCS demonstration licenses, PAK certificate registration is automatically completed during the Cisco WCS demonstration license registration when the customer enters the host name of their server.

2. Save the license file (.lic) to a temporary directory on your hard drive. (You will receive an email from Cisco with an attached license file).

3. Open a supported version of the Internet Explorer browser.

4. In the location or address field, enter the following URL, replacing IP address with the IP address or host name of the Cisco WCS server: https: // <IP address>.

5. Log in to the Cisco WCS server as system administrator. (Be aware that usernames and passwords are case-sensitive.).

6. From the Help menu select Licensing.

7. On the Licensing page, from the command menu select Add License....

8. On the Add License page, click Browse to navigate to the location where you saved the .lic file.

9. Click Download. The Cisco WCS server imports the license.

Installing Cisco WCS Demonstration License

You can experience Cisco WCS, the industry's leading platform for wireless LAN planning, configuration, management, and mobility services, for
free for 30 days by downloading the new full-featured, location-enabled Cisco WCS Demonstration License (WCS-DEMO-K9). The demonstration license is only available by download.

This license supports 10 access points for up to 30 days on a single server. Network configurations and set up for the demonstration license are retained to make it easier to transition to a licensed Cisco WCS copy.

The Cisco WCS demonstration license 30 day period begins on the day the license is downloaded. Cisco TAC support is not available for the Cisco WCS Demonstration License.

The email that is sent from Cisco licensing does not contain the Cisco WCS software image.

6. Open the email received from licensing@cisco.com titled WirelessControl System Field Demo License.

Note: Cisco WCS software should be already installed on the server.

7. Follow the instructions in the email to activate the Cisco WCS demonstration license.

Note: TAC support is not available for the demonstration license.

You can convert the demo license to a non-expiring license at anytime during the 30 day trial period. All WLAN configuration information created in the original installation are retained during these upgrades. Customers wishing to upgrade the demonstration license to non-expiring licenses with higher access point quantities may do so by purchasing one of the Cisco WCS license SKUs from the Cisco Ordering Tool.